Lead
Monty Lopez, the father of entertainer Addison Rae, was arrested in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, on July 27, 2025, after court records say an incident occurred on August 31, 2024. Authorities booked Lopez—born Manolito Juan Lopez—on felony obscenity and related sex-crime allegations tied to exposing himself in a public place. He posted a $2,500 bond, has pleaded not guilty and faces a hearing scheduled for March 19, 2026; prosecutors have recommended one year of hard labor. The case is drawn from court filings and local law-enforcement records made public in February 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Arrest date: July 27, 2025, according to court records released in February 2026.
- Alleged incident date: August 31, 2024, as cited in the charging documents.
- Charges: felony obscenity and a related sex-crime count tied to exposing genitalia in a public place.
- Bail and plea: bond was set at $2,500; Lopez has entered a not-guilty plea.
- Court schedule: a hearing is set for March 19, 2026; prosecutors asked for one year of hard labor.
- Personal context: Lopez (Manolito Juan Lopez) and Sheri Easterling share three children—Addison, Enzo and Lucas—and have a publicly reported, on-off marital history.
- Recent personal development: court filings and reports note Lopez remarried Kaitlyn Nicole Robins in October 2025 in Las Vegas.
Background
The charged conduct is drawn from Lafayette Parish court paperwork that recounts an incident alleged to have taken place on August 31, 2024. Local statutes cited in the filings criminalize exposure of genitalia in settings open to public view when done with sexual intent or in a manner deemed patently offensive. The filing lists Monty Lopez by his birth name, Manolito Juan Lopez, and sets out the state’s legal theory for bringing felony-level obscenity and sex-crime counts.
Lopez is a public figure by association: his daughter Addison Rae is a high-profile entertainer and social-media personality. Public interest in the case reflects that family profile and prior media coverage of Lopez’s personal life, including a long-running, on-again/off-again relationship with Sheri Easterling. The couple first married in 2004, reconciled and remarried in 2017, then separated again in 2022 amid public allegations of infidelity.
Main Event
According to the court documents, local law enforcement arrested Lopez on July 27, 2025, after an investigation tied to the August 2024 incident. The criminal complaint alleges that he exposed his genitals in a place open to public view with the requisite mens rea set out under Louisiana law; the documents quote statutory language used to support felony-level charges. After booking, Lopez posted a $2,500 bond and entered a not-guilty plea, preserving his right to contest evidence at the upcoming hearing.
Prosecutors have formally recommended a sentence that would include one year of hard labor if a conviction is obtained under the charges now filed. Defense filings at this stage are limited; court dockets typically remain sparse until pretrial hearings and formal motions are filed. The March 19, 2026 hearing will be a procedural milestone where defense and prosecution can contest aspects of the case and schedule further proceedings.
The case has drawn attention in part because of Lopez’s family connections and recent personal developments: reports indicate he remarried in October 2025, and his family history has been part of public reporting. Media outlets contacted Lopez for comment; according to public reports, there has been no substantive response from his representatives as of the February 2026 reporting.
Analysis & Implications
Legally, the prosecution’s choice to charge felony obscenity and a sex-related offense signals an intent to treat the alleged conduct as beyond a minor misdemeanor. In Louisiana, obscenity and exposure statutes can carry heavier penalties when prosecutors can show intent to arouse or that the conduct was patently offensive to public sensibilities; those elements are often contested in pretrial motions. The recommendation of one year of hard labor is a prosecutorial sentencing suggestion and not a conviction—sentencing, if any, will follow either a plea deal or a guilty verdict after trial.
For the defendant, entry of a not-guilty plea is standard at this stage and allows the defense to challenge the sufficiency of evidence, witness identifications, and whether the statutory elements are met. Defense strategy in similar cases often focuses on contesting intent and context—whether the exposure was deliberate and sexual in nature versus accidental or mischaracterized. Discovery and any body-camera or surveillance footage will be pivotal, as will witness statements in establishing or undermining the prosecutor’s narrative.
Beyond legal mechanics, the case has reputational implications given Lopez’s connection to a high-profile public figure. Public scrutiny can affect plea negotiations and trial optics, though courts are bound to assess facts and law irrespective of publicity. The family’s complex public history—multiple marriages, reconciliations, and reported allegations—does not determine guilt but shapes media coverage and public conversation about the proceedings.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Alleged incident | August 31, 2024 |
| Arrest | July 27, 2025 |
| Bail | $2,500 |
| Plea | Not guilty |
| Next hearing | March 19, 2026 |
The timeline above summarizes dates and procedural markers from court records made public. The interval between the alleged incident and the arrest—nearly 11 months—may reflect the pace of investigation, complaint filing, or the timing of warrant issuance. Comparable cases vary widely in timeline and outcome depending on available evidence and prosecutorial discretion.
Reactions & Quotes
“The defendant is charged with exposing his genitals, pubic hair, in a public place or place open to public view…with the intent of arousing sexual desire or which appealed to the prurient interest or was patently offensive.”
Court filing, Lafayette Parish (excerpt)
“Charges that hinge on claimed intent often come down to the surrounding facts and corroborating evidence, not just an allegation on its face.”
Criminal-law analyst (paraphrase)
Media outlets covering the filing noted that representatives for Lopez had been contacted but had not provided a public response as of the February 2026 reports. Family members tied to the case have appeared in past coverage for non-legal reasons, but no formal public comments about these charges have been filed by Addison Rae or other immediate relatives in the public record at the time of reporting.
Unconfirmed
- Whether prosecutors will secure additional evidence—such as video or further witness testimony—before the March 19, 2026 hearing is not publicly documented.
- The motive or mental state of the defendant beyond what is alleged in the charging documents remains unproven and is a matter for the court to determine.
- Any internal discussions between defense counsel and prosecutors about a potential plea deal have not been disclosed in public records.
Bottom Line
The publicly available court documents and law-enforcement records filed in February 2026 establish that Monty Lopez was arrested on July 27, 2025 and charged with felony obscenity and a related sex offense based on an alleged August 31, 2024 incident. He posted $2,500 bond, entered a not-guilty plea and is due in court March 19, 2026, where procedural and evidentiary disputes will shape the path forward.
At this stage, the allegations are claims the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt; recommendations from prosecutors about sentencing do not equate to convictions. Key developments to watch are disclosure of evidence in discovery, pretrial rulings on admissibility, and any witness testimony or surveillance material that may corroborate or contradict the charging narrative.